Claret jug 1892

This claret jug was made by Christopher Dresser, a British designer, in the late 19th century. The jug is made from glass, silver, and ebony. Dresser was a key figure in the Aesthetic Movement, which rejected Victorian industrial design and emphasized beauty and good taste. This jug reflects the Movement's interest in simple, functional forms and its embrace of new materials and technologies. In Britain at this time, the study of design was undergoing formalisation in the education system. Dresser himself was a lecturer and advocate for design reform, seeking to improve the quality of everyday objects. The jug’s clean lines and geometric shapes contrast with the ornate designs of earlier periods. By stripping away excess ornamentation, Dresser made this object fit for purpose. To understand the full meaning of an object like this, we need to consider its cultural and institutional context. Museum archives, design journals, and historical studies of the Aesthetic Movement can all help us to explore that history.